If you are looking into Alaska cruises for your
vacation this year then congratulations! You are going to have the
best cruise holiday ever, providing of course that you are looking
for a cruise with a difference. Visiting Alaska is without a doubt
my favorite of all of them, and I'm speaking from experience - my
cruising has taken me all over the world, but nothing has thrilled
me so much as the ones that I've taken to Alaska. Initially though,
my feeling was that it was going to be too cold, every time I ventured
on deck I'd be frozen, shore trips would be miserable, and after
you see one snow topped mountain then you've seen them all. Boy
was I wrong! So amazing was my first Alaska cruise that since then
I've done several, all with different operators, and all the cruises
were without exception brilliant.
One thing I did do though, was to follow the Alaska tour and travel
experts advice. They recommended the cruise lines that I ended up
using, but they seemed to be giving unbiased information. What suits
these cruises so well are the pre and post cruise tour packages
which connect with all the major lines. This takes you out into
Alaska where you can watch the bears fishing for salmon, go kayaking
or trekking through the many national parks. Sure the air was brisk,
but I was never miserable and cold. As long as you layer your clothing
you will be fine, the weather can be changeable so taking a raincoat
is not a bad idea. But the air, what a joy to breathe in this crisp
clean air. We have forgotten what unpolluted air smells like back
in NY.
Taking a cruise to Alaska has become somewhat of a trendy thing
to do these days. Smacks of conservationism I know, but take my
word for it, you will be affected by the awesome pristine beauty
of the glaciers and fjords. Can't image why anyone would want to
drive all the way by road when you can witness such spectacular
scenery by sea. In a nutshell, Alaska cruises give you - great food,
first class entertainment, wildlife watching with our amazing whales,
great eagles and bears, glaciers and all the interesting ports of
call along the way. The choice of cruise line is going to be your
real big decision, because that is going to be the really difficult
choice to make. The new players in the Industry with their floating
resorts have features like fine dining as well as casual restaurants,
lounges, Broadway style entertainment, casinos, health clubs, movie
theaters and libraries. One has to wonder if there is any time left
to view the passing scenery.
There is a sentimental favorite though, and this is the cruise
line that pioneered the Alaska cruise market. Call it sophisticated
old-world style cruising. How could anyone resist! You are able
to take either northbound or southbound Alaska cruises depending
on your cruise line. They are usually week-long cruises that travel
between Whittier (Anchorage) and Vancouver. Both include Glacier
Bay National Park, and College Fjord in Prince William Sound and
call in at the ports at Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Once in port,
passengers are able to take shore excursions and even helicopter
flights to the top of the glaciers, weather permitting of course.
Alaska tourism are right when they say if time permits, organise
a pre or post cruise tour that takes in the superb national parks,
staying at the lodges and experiencing the land side of this wonderfully
exciting state.
Sam Butler travels the world on cruise ships, and writes about
some famous cruising destinations. Cruises - As They Really Are!
